Singapore: the world’s maritime centre

With about 40% of the world’s maritime trade passing through the Malacca Straits and close to 126,000 vessels calling annually at its port, Singapore is at the tip of the spear of maritime decarbonisation. As the world’s largest bunkering port, Singapore is leaning into the energy transition and ramping up its capabilities to meet international shipping’s demand for a multi-fuel future, leading on the availability, safe handling and use of alternative fuels.

In 2024, it supplied record levels of conventional fuels and alternative fuels, including 464 tonnes of LNG, 883 tonnes of biofuel and 1.6 tonnes of methanol.

And one year ago, Fortescue’s Singapore-flagged Green Pioneer conducted the world’s first use of ammonia and diesel, supporting the development of ammonia bunkering guidelines.

Many of the Singapore-based shipmanagers we spoke with for Singapore Solutions that operate ships that call in the EU believe that biofuels currently offer the most viable option for complying with FuelEU Maritime and the EU Emissions Trading System.

While current bunkering volumes of green fuels are modest, the mix of alternative fuels is projected to increase in the years ahead as more alternative fuel-capable ships — including record levels of LNG-fuelled tonnage — enter the global fleet, and tighter international and regional fuel standards and emissions regulations kick in. Overall, Singapore supplied one sixth of all the fuel used by global shipping in 2024.

“Singapore supplied one sixth of all the fuel used by global shipping”

With natural resources and limited land area, Singapore is looking to boost energy resiliency to meet the demands of data centres and AI. Singapore Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Lawrence Wong, highlighted the role small modular reactors could play in the city-state’s future energy mix during his budget speech in February. The country has already signed a co-operation agreement with the US and is working with others on the potential deployment of civilian nuclear power.

Floating nuclear power plants could potentially help Singapore meet its future energy needs, including offering clean power for electrified harbour craft, the generation of e-fuels and facilitating its ambitious goal of being net-zero by 2050.

Connecting to some 600 other ports in 120 countries, the Port of Singapore is at the crossroads of the world, serving as the premier transhipment hub. Efficiency is maximised through increased automation, real-time information sharing and simultaneous cargo handling and bunkering (SIMOPS) – including the first methanol SIMOPS on an Xpress Feeder vessel at the Tuas Port. The operation also pioneered the use of a mass flow metering system for methanol, together with the use of digital bunkering.

Container throughput from both PSA terminals and Jurong Port crossed the 40M TEU mark for the first time in2024, growing by 5.4% and reaching a new record of 41.12M TEUs, compared to 39.0M TEUs in 2023, according to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

With one of the world’s top five ship registries, and as the leading maritime city, Singapore is not resting on its laurels. It continues to invest in maritime’s future with new bunkering infrastructure, port facilities, maritime training, and research and development, ensuring its place as the world’s top maritime centre.